Jack Malone (Without a Trace)
Encyclopedia
Special Agent John "Jack" Michael Malone is a fictional character in the canceled CBS crime drama Without a Trace
, portrayed by Anthony LaPaglia
. He was the lead agent for the New York City FBI missing persons
case squad. His departmental title is Supervisory Special Agent of New York District Unit C-8. He appeared on a crossover episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
called "Who and What".
when he was 16. She attempted once before but Jack caught her and made her promise not to try again. She agreed but asked him not to tell his father. He has suffered intermittent guilt for not preventing her death and wishes he had told his father. At age 18, he enlisted in the US Army (at his father's urging) and served for 6 years in the 82nd Airborne Division before returning to Pittsburgh, suffering from depression. Jack tried to commit suicide once at age 25 by driving his car into a telephone pole, but when asked about it, he claims that he fell asleep at the wheel. His wife, who knows the truth, later uses this information against Jack. After taking a year off after leaving the service, Jack returned to college, where he received his bachelor's and his master's degree in psychology.
(Poppy Montgomery
), and because of his long work hours. Although he later returned to his wife Maria, a lawyer, she left him at the end of the second season, moved to Chicago, and obtained full custody of their two daughters, Hannah and Kate (Laura Marano
and Vanessa Marano
). Jack's long work hours and troubled family history was used against him during the custody battle, though in the end he decided it would be better for them if they stayed with their mother. He still remains in close contact with the girls but struggles with his relationship with Hannah. Hannah resents him for the divorce and frequently refuses to speak to him. He is concerned about the future of his relationships with his daughters.
In the fourth season, Jack dealt with the death of his father (played by Martin Landau
) from Alzheimer's Disease
and started a new relationship with Anne (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
), the widow of a fellow agent. Soon after they started dating, he learned that Anne was pregnant, which was an unpleasant surprise to both of them.
In the fifth season, Jack is dealing with the aftermath of a hostage standoff involving Anne and with her unexpected pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage
. The miscarriage abruptly ends their relationship.
In Season 6, Jack is dealing with a human trafficking for a good part of the season. During the middle part of the season, Jack is shot by the leader of the human trafficking ring Franklin Romar. He is left for dead, but the rest of his team finds Jack and Romar is arrested. Jack is left to recover in the hospital when he finds out that one of the victims he felt attached to is being targeted by one of Romar's men. Jack leaves the hospital to search of the girl. He finds her just in time before she is again abducted. In the season finale, Jack is demoted for his handling of the human trafficking investigation.
In the season seven premiere (Closure, 7x01), we find out that Jack has been replaced by Special Agent Clark Medina (played by Steven Weber
). Jack was offered another job and considered taking it, but turned it down. A few episodes later, Clark gets Jack his job back before leaving for a better job. Over the last episodes of the 6th season and the first episodes of the seventh season Jack and Sam began to grow closer. In episode eight (Better Angels, 7x08), Jack and Sam headed to Los Angeles while working on a case, there, Jack and Sam rekindled their relationship. Also in this episode we learn that Jack's daughter Hannah has been acting up and is going to come live with Jack in New York.
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
, portrayed by Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
. He was the lead agent for the New York City FBI missing persons
Missing Persons
Missing Persons is an American band who plays a blend of New Wave and Pop rock. The band was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. They went on to add bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild. Dale's quirky voice...
case squad. His departmental title is Supervisory Special Agent of New York District Unit C-8. He appeared on a crossover episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
called "Who and What".
Fictional character biography
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jack's mother committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
when he was 16. She attempted once before but Jack caught her and made her promise not to try again. She agreed but asked him not to tell his father. He has suffered intermittent guilt for not preventing her death and wishes he had told his father. At age 18, he enlisted in the US Army (at his father's urging) and served for 6 years in the 82nd Airborne Division before returning to Pittsburgh, suffering from depression. Jack tried to commit suicide once at age 25 by driving his car into a telephone pole, but when asked about it, he claims that he fell asleep at the wheel. His wife, who knows the truth, later uses this information against Jack. After taking a year off after leaving the service, Jack returned to college, where he received his bachelor's and his master's degree in psychology.
Without a Trace
His marriage imploded after he had an affair with his subordinate, Agent Samantha SpadeSamantha Spade (Without a Trace)
Special Agent Samantha "Sam" Spade is a fictional character portrayed by actress Poppy Montgomery on the CBS television drama Without a Trace.Samantha is a Special Agent in the New York City FBI missing persons case squad led by Special Agent Jack Malone...
(Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery , is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Samantha Spade on Without a Trace...
), and because of his long work hours. Although he later returned to his wife Maria, a lawyer, she left him at the end of the second season, moved to Chicago, and obtained full custody of their two daughters, Hannah and Kate (Laura Marano
Laura Marano
Laura Marie Marano is an American teen actress. She has appeared in Without a Trace and Back to You, in both instances playing the daughter of the main characters. In December, she will be starring in a lead role in the new Disney Channel series Austin & Ally...
and Vanessa Marano
Vanessa Marano
Vanessa Nicole Marano is an American actress. She has appeared on the TV series Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls, Scoundrels and The Young and the Restless, among others. She is currently a main character on Switched at Birth, where she stars as Bay Kennish.-Personal life:Vanessa Marano was born...
). Jack's long work hours and troubled family history was used against him during the custody battle, though in the end he decided it would be better for them if they stayed with their mother. He still remains in close contact with the girls but struggles with his relationship with Hannah. Hannah resents him for the divorce and frequently refuses to speak to him. He is concerned about the future of his relationships with his daughters.
In the fourth season, Jack dealt with the death of his father (played by Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
) from Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and started a new relationship with Anne (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is an American actress and singer known for her role as Carmen in The Color of Money, as well as for her roles as Lindsey Brigman in The Abyss, Gina Montana in Scarface, and Maid Marian in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.-Personal life:Mastrantonio was born in Lombard,...
), the widow of a fellow agent. Soon after they started dating, he learned that Anne was pregnant, which was an unpleasant surprise to both of them.
In the fifth season, Jack is dealing with the aftermath of a hostage standoff involving Anne and with her unexpected pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
. The miscarriage abruptly ends their relationship.
In Season 6, Jack is dealing with a human trafficking for a good part of the season. During the middle part of the season, Jack is shot by the leader of the human trafficking ring Franklin Romar. He is left for dead, but the rest of his team finds Jack and Romar is arrested. Jack is left to recover in the hospital when he finds out that one of the victims he felt attached to is being targeted by one of Romar's men. Jack leaves the hospital to search of the girl. He finds her just in time before she is again abducted. In the season finale, Jack is demoted for his handling of the human trafficking investigation.
In the season seven premiere (Closure, 7x01), we find out that Jack has been replaced by Special Agent Clark Medina (played by Steven Weber
Steven Weber (actor)
Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:...
). Jack was offered another job and considered taking it, but turned it down. A few episodes later, Clark gets Jack his job back before leaving for a better job. Over the last episodes of the 6th season and the first episodes of the seventh season Jack and Sam began to grow closer. In episode eight (Better Angels, 7x08), Jack and Sam headed to Los Angeles while working on a case, there, Jack and Sam rekindled their relationship. Also in this episode we learn that Jack's daughter Hannah has been acting up and is going to come live with Jack in New York.